Portland: Amanda Fritz undecided on fluoride but won’t push for a public vote

When the issue first surfaced publicly in August, Fritz wrote in an email that “it seems that the most prudent course of action may be to support a referral of the issue, rather than Council making the decision.”

Fritz, in a follow-up email to The Oregonian, this month said she “will not be moving to refer the issue to the voters” at the hearing scheduled for 2 p.m. Thursday. Three times, Portlanders have voted against fluoride, the most recent time in 1980.

Fritz also said she has yet to make up her mind about fluoride.

“As usual, I will wait until considering all testimony before and at the hearing before announcing how I will vote,” she wrote.

Mayor Sam Adams and Commissioners Randy Leonard and Nick Fish have said they will vote in favor of fluoridating Portland’s water, ensuring it will pass. Commissioner Dan Saltzman hasn’t indicated how he feels about the proposal.